How many games will Jaroslav Halak steal for the Canadiens this postseason? The Slovak bounced back from a tough loss in Pittsburgh on Tuesday to record 33 saves and lift the Habs to a crucial 3-2 victory at home that sent the series back to Mellon Arena knotted at 2-2. Halak was again the Habs’ best player, as Montreal was dominated by the Penguins for most of the game.
Tom Pyatt actually put Montreal up 1-0 early in the game, squeaking a wrist shot through Marc-Andre Fleury’s pads from deep in the zone. The Pens were quick to answer, though, as Max Talbot and Chris Kunitz scored less than 2 minutes apart to put them back on top. Max Talbot won a foot race to a loose puck in the neutral zone and streaked in on a breakaway where he beat Halak with a shifty little backhand deke. Kunitz was the beneficiary of a centering passs from Sidney Crosby on the powerplay that glanced in off his skates.
After being out shot 26-9 in the first two periods, the Canadiens came out flying in the 3rd, though, outshooting Pittsburgh 16-9 in the final twenty minutes and getting just enough offense for the win. Max Lapierre took advantage of some poor judgment by Fleury on the game-tying goal, as the Pittsburgh keeper vainly tried to pokecheck the puck away behind the net, but Lapierre quickly reversed direction and beat him to the far post with a wraparound. A few minutes later, Brian Gionta’s centering pass from the wing hit off of Kris Letang’s skate blade and slid perfectly in the net, giving Halak all he would need to finish off the win. The Pens continued to press offensively, but were unable to beat him at all over the last 55 minutes of play.
Fleury will have to be much better and avoid giving up soft goals like the ones he gave up tonight if the Pens don’t want to end up in the same spot as Canadiens’ other heavily favored opponent did. Game 5 will be Saturday night in Pittsburgh.
